66 
THE AUSTRALIAN BEEKEEPERS’ JOURNAL. 
another, somewhat smaller than the ordinary 
black bee, and a still smaller one, not larger 
than the common house fly. He had been 
commissioned by the Government of Madras 
to try if it were* possible to domesticate either 
of these races of bees. He had found the 
intermediate kind would work in a hive, but 
as they only stored about ten pounds of honey 
during the season, they were m t considered 
worth keeping. The large bee, Apis Dorsata, 
he stated, builds only one comb, and usually 
under rocks or cliffs, hence its common name 
Rock Bee. This bee he described as being 
very wild, building combs which often measure 
three feet or more in length, and have a thick- 
ness of eight inches at the top where they 
store the honey which, as a rule, is not worth 
collecting, excepting about once in seven years, 
when it is good. As many as 130 swarms 
have been known to build under one cliff. 
The natives collect the combs by mounting on 
bamboo ladders with torches of flaming grass, 
with which they both smoke and burn the 
bees, when they* detach the large combs and 
their contents into large baskets. The honey 
is generally speaking very dark coloured 
and almost useless ; but the chief object is to 
obtain the wax, which is much the most 
valuable product. 
The smallest bee build small combs around 
the branches of trees, but store hut little 
honey. 
FUMIGATING COMBS. 
A member enquired as to the best method 
of fumigating frames of combs which were to 
be kept during the winter. The Chairman 
replied that sulphurous acid fumes would kill 
all germs of disease, and combs treated in 
this way could be used without any fear. 
To an enquiry if this treatment would 
prevent mildew, Mr. Foord replied that 
sulphurous fumes killed both animal and 
vegetable germs, and would no doubt prevent 
mildew. 
SPECIMENS OF BEEKEEPING APPLIANCES. 
Mr. F. B. Miller suggested that a case for 
holding samples of the smaller beekeepers’ 
tools and appliances, and perhaps, also, of 
specimens of bees, combs, &c., should be 
obtained and kept in the Club room. The 
Chairman stated he hoped shortly to arrange 
for the use of a room in the Athenaeum in 
which to hold our future meetings. It was 
very desirable, he said, that the books and 
periodicals which had been lately purchased 
for the Society should be made available to 
members at once, and a bookcase for the 
purpose would he procured. The suggestion 
of Mr. Miller, he hoped, would also be carried 
out. 
POISONOUS HONEY. 
A conversation ensued on the subject of 
poisonous honey. Some members doubted if 
such existed, despite the various accounts — 
ancient and modern — of the fatal effects of 
honey. Mr. Nicholson said that in certain 
seasons bees in India collect honey which is 
undoubtedly poisonous to the natives He 
had not, however, tried the effects on himself, 
but would be glad to send a sample of it to 
the Club for any member who might be 
inclined to try it. 
Mr. J. J. Walsh was elected a member of 
the Club, and the meeting terminated at ten 
o’clock. 
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS. 
Beekeeping for Beginners. 
Bees at Work. — A great deal of bee 
knowledge is gained by carefully watching 
bees going in and out of their hives on a 
warm sunny morning. One should never 
stand quite in front of the entrances when 
watching, but either to one side or at the 
back of the hive. If the stock is in a good 
healthy condition, bees should be going in and 
out in considerable numbers, unless during the 
winter months, when there is much less bee- 
business going on. If honey and flowers are 
about, one can judge of the strength of his 
stock by the numbers going in and out. It is 
often asked how many bees should enter per 
minute in a strong hive in spring time P This 
will depend upon whether young bees are 
hatching out and breeding going on rapidly. 
In a strong colony on a fine warm day in early 
spring, or even in our Australian winter, from 
thirty to sixty per minute would show a vig- 
orous state of the community ; but just before 
swarming time it is almost impossible to count 
the number entering per minute, as they often 
amount to hundreds. From thirty a minute 
upwards on fine winter days will indicate a 
good strong condition. 
Beginner, in watching, will soon find out a 
remarkable difference in the movements of 
some bees as compared with others ; some 
arrive at full speed, scarcely stopping to alight, 
but almost flying direct into the entrance ; or 
alighting, bustle in as if they had not a 
moment to spare; others will loiter about 
getting in the way of the busy ones, take 
short flights and come hack and hover about 
the hive. The former are the old bees hard 
at work, the others are either young bees 
exercising and sunning themselves, practising 
for longer flights on business, or drones out 
